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courses:ast100:0.2 [2026/01/19 05:20] – created asadcourses:ast100:0.2 [2026/02/01 09:01] (current) – asad
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-====== Cosmic evolution ====== +====== 0.2. Cosmic evolution ====== 
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 The epic narrative of the cosmos began approximately 14 billion years ago with the Big Bang, a singularity where all space, time, energy and matter (STEM) were compressed into a point of infinite density. This event was not an explosion of matter into pre-existing empty space, but rather a rapid expansion of space itself, carrying matter and energy along with it. In the first fraction of a second, the universe underwent "inflation," expanding exponentially faster than the speed of light, which smoothed out primordial irregularities and established the vast scale of the cosmos. As the universe expanded and cooled, it transitioned from a chaotic Radiation Era, where intense energy prevented structure, to a Matter Era about 50,000 years later, finally allowing the first atomic nuclei to capture electrons and form neutral atoms. The epic narrative of the cosmos began approximately 14 billion years ago with the Big Bang, a singularity where all space, time, energy and matter (STEM) were compressed into a point of infinite density. This event was not an explosion of matter into pre-existing empty space, but rather a rapid expansion of space itself, carrying matter and energy along with it. In the first fraction of a second, the universe underwent "inflation," expanding exponentially faster than the speed of light, which smoothed out primordial irregularities and established the vast scale of the cosmos. As the universe expanded and cooled, it transitioned from a chaotic Radiation Era, where intense energy prevented structure, to a Matter Era about 50,000 years later, finally allowing the first atomic nuclei to capture electrons and form neutral atoms.
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 Despite this rise in complexity, current observations suggest the universe will likely expand forever rather than recollapse. The discovery of "dark energy," a mysterious repulsive force that constitutes the majority of the universe's energy density, indicates that cosmic expansion is accelerating. As galaxies drift farther apart and stars eventually exhaust their nuclear fuel, the universe is expected to become cold, dark, and simple, eventually reaching a state of maximum entropy. In this probable future, known as the "**Big Freeze**," energy gradients will flatten out, rendering the formation of any further complexity impossible, bringing the grand narrative to a silent, frozen conclusion. Despite this rise in complexity, current observations suggest the universe will likely expand forever rather than recollapse. The discovery of "dark energy," a mysterious repulsive force that constitutes the majority of the universe's energy density, indicates that cosmic expansion is accelerating. As galaxies drift farther apart and stars eventually exhaust their nuclear fuel, the universe is expected to become cold, dark, and simple, eventually reaching a state of maximum entropy. In this probable future, known as the "**Big Freeze**," energy gradients will flatten out, rendering the formation of any further complexity impossible, bringing the grand narrative to a silent, frozen conclusion.
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courses/ast100/0.2.1768825255.txt.gz · Last modified: by asad
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